Freestanding Pet Gate – Is It Really Safe?  

A freestanding pet gate offers the simplest way to close off a particular room or space to confine your pet without any kind of fixtures. To know whether they are really safe you have to look at the features offered by the different types of freestanding gates available.

Freestanding pet gates are a fairly new concept that requires absolutely no installation and minimal amount of assembly. The two most common types of freestanding gates include the T-bar gate and the Zigzag gate.

The T-bar gate is supported by t-bars on both ends of the gate for stability. The feet of the t-bars are perpendicular to the gate and vary from 15 to 18 inches depending on the length of the gate. The length of the t-bar’s feet increases with the length of the gate.

The Zigzag gate on the other hand gains stability from the ‘W’ pattern of its multiple panels, usually ranging from 2 to 5. The panels are arranged in a zigzag pattern to create stability.

While it is clear how these two types of gates are supported, their capability to withstand the efforts of your pet however depends on the size and determination of your pet. Taking their stability source into consideration it is most likely that an active pet will be able to topple or push a freestanding pet gate without any barrier on the other side to stop the motion.

However, it is also likely that once the gate starts to topple over, the frightened pet will stop pushing or pulling the gate which would tip the gate back to its original position. The only way to know for sure whether a freestanding pet gate is safe or not is to use the gate for your pet when you are at home to observe the reaction of your pet.

Freestanding gates are becoming more and more popular and their popularity is also a measure of their success and effectiveness as pet gate.

Like any other pet gate there are certain limitations for the length and use of a freestanding pet gate. While they are perfect for places where it is not possible to use hardware or pressure mounted pet gates and can be safely used to section off part of your living area or used between rooms, they cannot be used for stairways or other hazardous areas. So, make sure to learn more about freestanding pet gates before you decide that they are the right choice for your needs.